1 killed, dozens injured after church bus overturns

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- One person was killed and 36 more were transported to the hospital after a church bus overturned in Fulton County on Thursday.

According to Fulton County Police, the accident happened on Camp Creek Parkway at Merk Road just after 4 p.m.

SkyTracker 11 showed the bus overturned on the road. Another vehicle appeared to be heavily damaged.

Fulton County police said that there were 38 people on the bus. In addition to one fatality, four to five were critically injured, while 10 were said to be "walking wounded."

Officials with Wellstar later confirmed in a press conference that they received a total of 24 patients at three different hospitals.

Photos | Camp Creek church bus crash

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All 15 patients taken to Atlanta Medical Center South - mostly young adults - are expected to be treated and released. However only limited information was available for three patients at Wellstar-Kennestone and six at Atlanta Medical Center Downtown. A spokesperson did confirm that some of the injuries were more severe.

Grady Memorial Hospital said they received 9 patients. Of those, four were in critical condition, three in fair and one was listed in stable condition. Other hospitals that received patients included Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta Medical Center and Southern Regional Medical Center, according to Grady officials.

AMR Ambulance service will provide family reunification information at its offices located at: 3503 Naturally Fresh Blvd, Suite 360; College Park, GA 30339.

The bus was from Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., The church's minister of education, Terry Slay, said that 11th and 12th grade students, along with some adults, were on the bus when the accident happened.

"We know there was a wreck, some injuries. Some critical," Slay said. "That’s all we know right now, we’re trying to get more information.”

The church posted a message on Facebook saying, "PRAY! One of the buses with the student ministry mission had an accident on the way to the Atlanta airport. Several serious injuries. Please pray for those injured and parents as they travel to Atlanta."

Camp Creek Parkway was closed in both directions as crews worked to clear the scene.